By a margin of 55% to 38%, Americans believe the Supreme Court should not block
The Affordable Care Act subsidies to low-income consumers are the subject of the King v. Burwell case now before the high court. A decision is expected by the end of June.
Plaintiffs argue that the text of the law allows subsidies only in states that have “established” online insurance exchanges. The Obama administration says the intent of Congress was to make subsidies available in all states. If the challengers prevail, millions of people in the 34 states without exchanges could lose subsidies.
The poll, based on 1,001 people interviewed at the end of May, found that 65% of Democrats and 34% of Republicans say the Justices should not rule against the subsidies, while 57% of Independents favored keeping the subsidies.
The poll, based on 1,001 people interviewed at the end of May, found that 65% of Democrats and 34% of Republicans say the Justices should not rule against the subsidies, while 57% of Independents favored keeping the subsidies.
In states that do not operate exchanges, most of which have Republican-controlled legislatures, 53% of respondents favored keeping the subsidies. In states that currently operate exchanges, support for the subsidies was 58%.
Respondents were asked, “The Supreme Court is deciding a case that could undermine the entire health care law by blocking federal subsidies that help some low and moderate income Americans pay for health insurance. Do you think the Court should or should not take this action?” The poll results have a margin of error of 3.5%.